The Northwest School

Northwest School adds $15M building to Capitol Hill campus

The Northwest School on Capitol Hill will break ground on a $15 million multipurpose building at 10 a.m. Thursday. The site is at 401 E. Pike St.

The 31,000-square-foot, two-story building will house a full-court gymnasium, two-tiered dining room, a 175-seat black-box theater, a rooftop sports field with overhead netting, and a “sky lab” that can be used an outdoor science classroom.

Planters on the roof will be used for school projects and for an organic herb garden.

The building will have a display that shows its energy and utility use, a recycling- and compost-collection system, green walls and green sidewalks.

The project will replace a parking lot, which The Northwest School acquired in 2010 for $2.3 million.

The architect is Mithun, and Exxel Pacific is the general contractor. Warren Co. is the project manager. The firm worked with the school on a recent $1.2 million dormitory renovation and a $13 million renovation in 2005.

The Northwest School is an independent private school that serves 476 students in grades 6-12.